Politics, Police Chiefs, Controversies and the new IGP

He joined the police force as a constable. While serving, he sat for his Advanced Level examination and earned promotion to Sub Inspector grade, subsequently gaining selection to the Law Faculty at university, and obtained his LL.B. degree. Promoted to ASP rank, he continued pursuing higher post graduate education, developing into a disciplined and exemplary police officer.

- By K. K. S. PERERA

Sri Lankan policing history has witnessed several remarkable firsts in recent times. For the first time ever, both an interdicted Inspector General of Police (IGP) and an acting IGP have served simultaneously—a situation unprecedented in the country's law enforcement history. In another groundbreaking development, Parliament exercised its power to vote for the removal of an IGP, marking the first instance of such democratic intervention in police leadership.

Perhaps most inspiring is the rise of a police officer who began at the lowest rank and climbed through every level to reach the pinnacle as IGP—a testament to merit-based advancement and a beacon of hope for career progression within the force. When someone enters an institution at its most junior level and ascends to its highest echelons, this is no mere coincidence. It represents the culmination of extraordinary dedication and an unwavering chain of determined effort coming to fruition.

Historical Precedents of External Appointments

This recent emphasis on internal promotion stands in stark contrast to earlier practices. June 1, 1947, marked a significant moment in Ceylon’s history. Prime Minister D.S.Senanayake appointed his friend Richard Aluvihare as IGP—a civil servant with military experience but an outsider to the police hierarchy. Nearly a decade later, in 1957, Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike faced a unique challenge: unable to identify a senior Sinhala Buddhist officer within the existing police leadership structure, he controversially appointed MF.W. Abeykoon, another external candidate, as IGP.